Veronica Connor Middle School student revived by GI school official

Taken from the Sept. 13 Dispatch

Veronica Conner Middle School Assistant
Principal Eleanor Payne stepped in Monday, Sept. 9, to do CPR on a 10-year-old
student who had collapsed in the school hallway.

Shortly before 4 p.m., the Grand Island Fire Co.
responded to a report of a "student down" at the Ransom Road school.

According to the GIFC report, the student had
left the school earlier in the day with an unspecified illness, but had
returned with her mother to pick up some items when she collapsed near her
locker. Payne, who was still in the main office, rushed to the scene, found
that the student did not have a pulse, and started CPR, which restored
breathing. GIFC medics arrived and continued treatment. The student was
transported to Women and Children's Hospital.

Fire Chief Kevin Koch agreed with GIFC medics
that critical lifesaving intervention by Payne was undoubtedly instrumental in
assuring a positive outcome for the student.

Payne said she has had CPR training for more
than 20 years and had just renewed her certification on Aug. 30. She said she
was thankful to still be in the building when the life-threatening incident
occurred and she rendered assistance.

A statement issued by Dr. Teresa Lawrence,
superintendent of schools, on behalf of the family, said, "We want to thank
everyone and we are extremely appreciative of all the help and support. We are
especially grateful for the quick response of Assistant Principal Eleanor Payne
and the emergency responders. Our child is doing well and will be returning to
school soon.

"Thank you for your continued prayers."

Lawrence and Tak Nobumoto, school board
president, issued a joint statement, saying: "On behalf of the Grand Island
School District, we wish to extend our ongoing support to the family. We are
grateful for the skill, quick reaction and selflessness of our staff,
especially Eleanor Payne, and the community's first responders.

"Our school community is prepared and looking
forward to the student's return."

This life-saving scenario proves how extremely
valuable CPR training can be, since you never know when it will be needed, Koch
stressed.